Valley Onda’s latest single “Brutha” is a kind of sonic soft power that doesn’t force its way into your chest, but settles there anyway. It shuffles in slowly, like that friend who doesn’t say much but always leaves you thinking. Whispered vocals, gauzy guitars, and a rhythm that feels like it’s swaying with a bit of salt in its step—this is the kind of track that asks you to sit down for a second and just… listen. No fireworks. Just a quiet storm brewing somewhere behind your ribcage.
“Brutha” doesn’t shout about resilience, but it hums it in your ear. Born out of post-lockdown reflection and long hours of self-sorting, the track circles around the idea of what it means to live in someone else’s shadow—and what happens when you finally start stepping out of it. There’s a central character here, maybe fictional, maybe not, who’s done being second fiddle. But don’t expect a power anthem. This is rebellion by slow dance. The groove is hypnotic but subdued, like the calm that comes after deciding you’re done apologising for existing.
It’s also gorgeously textured. You can feel the edges of folk, the spine of indie, and the atmosphere of a thousand different electronic midnight walks all braided together. There’s something almost Mansionair-esque in the mood, a whisper of Alt-J in the rhythm shifts, and even a hint of Gorillaz’ layered cool. But Valley Onda isn’t out here mimicking anyone. This is music made in the quiet corners between three different musical minds—Jordan, Michiya, and Galen—who clearly trust the slow-cooked process of making something real together.
About Valley Onda:
Based in Sydney/Gadigal, Valley Onda have been simmering beneath the radar since 2019, but this feels like a turning point. There’s no “brand,” no heavy concept weighing things down—just three people walking into a room and seeing what happens. Between them, their past lives stretch across Georgia Fair, Lamalo, and David Sharp & The Sunday Best, but this trio has birthed something that feels unlike any of that. It’s as if they let go of what each of them should sound like and found what they actually sound like together. “Brutha” is just the first wave from a debut album that’s been drifting its way to shore, slow but determined. Like a turtle with great taste in synths.
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